Dispensing fitting for containers



9 A. J. CHAMBERLAIN 2,143,360

DISPENSING FITTING FOR CONTAINERS Filed March 7, 1938 m LRQLLL ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 17, 1939 rinses unites STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING FITTING FOR, CONTAINERS Alfred J. Chamberlain, Wauwatosa, Wis.

Application March 7,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in dispensing fittings for containers of the type including a nozzle secured to and projecting upwardly from the top of the container and a hingedly supported spout adapted to be swun up to a pouring position wherein it projects be yond the nozzle, or to be swung down to an inoperative position wherein it hangs down inside the container so as to permit of the application of a closure and seal to the nozzle.

The object of the present invention is to im prove the construction and operation of a dispensing fitting of this character and particularly to secure a liquid-tight fit or seal between the spout and the nozzle when the nozzle is in its projected or pouring position and this while insuring the retention of the nozzle against accidental displacement from its pouring position.

-Another' object of the invention is to provide a dispensing fitting having these advantages and capacities and which preserves the simplicity and compactness of a structure of this kind and all of the desirable self-venting features thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing fitting having these advantages and capacities and which combines with the hinge mounting for the spout a stop arrangement for limiting the downward swinging of the nozzle and the spout to insure accessibility for manipulation from an inoperative to an operative pouring position.

Other objects and advantagesreside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in transverse vertical section taken along the major axis of the spout and nozzle and illustrating a portion of the top of a can or container with which the fitting is associated, the spout being shown in its projected or pouring position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the spout in its inoperative position within the container and a closure and seal applied to the nozzle;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View partly in horizontal section and partly in bottom plan further illustrating the structure positioned as shown in Figure 1, a portion of the spout being broken away for the sake of illustration;

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views of portions of the nozzle and spout and asso- 1938, Serial No. 194,339

ciated structure and illustrating the gasket with which the spout is equipped just prior to and after compression respectively; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in top plan illustrating the closure and seal adapted for ad- 5 vantageous use with this type of fitting.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral lfi designates generally a container which may be of any suitable construction and which is provided with a top I I which may be cupped or inset in the man- 10 nor illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or in any other suitable manner. The top is provided with an opening equipped with a nozzle designated generally at I2. The nozzle i2 is oblong and has a vertically disposed upper portion 13 provided around its upper edge with a rolled bead l4 and also has an outwardly and downwardly inclined or flaring lower portion l5 formed as an integral continuation of the upper vertical portion 13. The flaring lower portion l5 has an integral horizontally disposed marginal flange 16 which is in terseamed with or otherwise suitably interconnected to the margin of the opening in the top of the container as illustrated at H.

A removable cap or closure 18 of any suitable construction is provided for the nozzle l2 and may be held in place by a sealing ring [9. The specific construction of this closure and its sealing ring as well as the means provided to facilitate its removal will not be specfically described as per se they form the subject matter of my application for patent for Ring seal closures, filed February 28, 1938, Serial No. 192,901.

A disappearing spout designated generally at is provided and is shown mounted or pivotally supported so that it may hang downwardly in the can as illustrated in Figure 2 to permit of the application of the closure or cap l8 and its sealing ring l9 and, when the cap l8 and its ring 19 are removed the spout 20 may be swung upwardly and outwardly to the pouring position shown in Figure 1.

The spout 20 is generally U-shaped in horizontal cross section as will be understood from the drawing and is made up of side walls or side wings 22 disposed in spaced parallel relation and connected transversely at their forward ends by the curved end wall 23 which is integral with the side wings. The spout is so shaped in vertical cross section that its side wings 22 and curved end wall 23 all have a vertical portion 24 designed to be disposed in close proximity to the vertical portion [3 of the nozzle and a downwardly and outwardly flaring portion 25 designed to snugly interfit with the flaring-portion 15 of the nozzle when the spout is swung to its pouring position. It is not essential that the flare of portions l5 and 25 be as pronounced as illustrated in the drawing.

The vertical portion 24 of the nozzle is provided with an outwardly facing groove 26. A tubular gasket 21 of rubber, rubber composition, or other suitable elastic material is seated in this groove and extends from one end thereof to the other. The spout 23 is provided with notches 28 at the rearward ends of the groove 26 which may be of the general shape shown, and the gasket adjacent its ends is caught and secured in these grooves. The metal constitutingthe notch structure may be flattened after the gasket ends are caught therein to enhance the character of the fastening action. While the gasket 21 may be of any suitable construction it is preferably tubular and may be what is commercially known as Koraseal. The gasket 27 projects laterally beyond the vertical wall 24 and the spout 20 is so mounted that when it is swung to its projected or pouring position the gasket is flattened out or compressed, that is, its cross section is changed from that illustrated in Figure 4 to the formation illustrated in Figure 5. This, plus the manner of mounting the spout to insure its snug frictional engagement with the nozzle provides a liquid tight seal between these parts and prevents leakage of the liquid being poured through the crevice or interstice between the spout or the nozzle.

For the purpose of mounting the spout on the nozzle to provide for its pivotal movement from one position to the other and to insure the action just described, the curved end wall of the spout may be provided at the central portion of its lower edge with an integral bearing sleeve 36 designed to interfit between and be alined with a pair of similar although shorter bearing sleeves 3! formed integral with a hinge bracket 32 which may be of plate-like form. Angular stops 33 may be integrally formed with the ends of the hinge bracket 32 and depend down in the can in such position as to be engageable with the side wings of the spout and limit its downward swinging to the position shown in Figure 2 thereby rendering it accessible for manipulation to its projected or pouring position when the cap I8 is removed.

In assembling the structure the bearing sleeve 38 of the spout with the gasket 21 applied thereto is first interfitted and alined with the sleeve 3! and a cotter pin or pivot pin 34 inserted through the alined sleeves and suitably secured against axial displacement. These parts thus assembled are then placed in proper relation to the nozzle with the spout in its projected position shown in Figure 1 and they are held in this position with the gasket 2'! compressed and the side wings and forward end wall properly related to the cooperative portions of the nozzle by means of a suitable fixture. The fixture exerts such pressure on the spout as to compress the gasket 21 and maintain the spout and nozzle in the position shown in Figure 5. The hinge bracket 32 is then placed in proper position against the underside of the flange I6 to insure subsequent retention of the parts in the relation just described and is then riveted, welded, or otherwise secured in place. Preferably it is secured in place by a single rivet 35 which is so constituted and driven as to make its own holes in the bracket 32 and flange and permanently secure the mounting plate in position to insure the described action.

With a construction of this sort when the nozzle is swung to its projected'or pouring position it is not only brought in liquid tight relation to the nozzle but is frictionally held in place. If desired positive means may be provided to preclude accidental displacement of the pouring spout from its pouring position and this may be conveniently done by displacing outwardly portions 36 of the side wings thereby forming locking shoulders 31 engageable with the bead of the nozzle I2. In swinging the nozzle to its pouring position these displaced portions and their shoulders are cammed inwardly, the side wings 22 being flexed to permit this action of the nozzle but when the shoulders pass above the top of the bead of the nozzle they snap or click into locking relation therewith. To return the spout to its inoperative position the wings 22 must be flexed inwardly to release the locking shoulders from engagement with the bead of the nozzle.

While I have shown and described one construction in which the invention may be advantageously embodied, it is to be understood that the construction shown has been selected merely for the purpose of illustration or example and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoineol claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A dispensing fitting for containers compri ing a nozzle of obiong form secured to the container and projecting therefrom, a spout of generally U-shaped form and having spaced side wings and a curved end wall connecting the side wings at one end of the spout, means pivotally supporting the spout in such relation to the nozzle that it may hang down within the container in its inoperative position or may be swung up to a position projecting beyond the nozzle for pouring, the spout and nozzle having portions interengageable in the projected position of the spout, the curved end wall and forward portions of the side wings of the spout overhanging one end of the spout in its projected position, said side wings and curved end wall of the spout having an outwardly facing groove, and a gasket seated in said groove and compressed between the interengageable portions of the spout and nozzle in the projected position of the spout.

2. A dispensing fitting for containers comprising a nozzle of oblong form secured to the container and projecting therefrom, a spout of generally U-shaped form and having spaced side wings and a curved end wall connecting the side wings at one end of the spout, means pivotally supporting the spout in such relation to the nozzle that it may hang down within the container in its inoperative position or may be swung up to a position projecting beyond the nozzle for pouring, the spout and nozzle having portions interengageable in the projected position of the spout, the curved end wall and forward portions of the side wings of the spout overhanging one end of the spout in its projected position, said side wings and curved end wall of the spout having an outwardly facing groove, t-

gasket seated in said groove and compressed between the interengageable portions of the spout and nozzle in the projected position of the spout, and resilient locking shoulders formed on the side wings of the spout and engageable with the nozzle to releasably secure the spout in its projected position.

3. A dispensing fitting for containers comprising a nozzle of oblong form secured to the container and projecting therefrom, a spout pivotally supported with respect to the nozzle and of generally U-shaped form and having spaced side wings and a curved end wall connecting the side wings at one end of the spout, said nozzle and said spout having confronting portions adapted to be brought into close proximity in the projected position of the spout, said portion of the spout having an outwardly facing groove, and a tubular gasket disposed in said groove and having its ends fastened to the spout at the ends of the groove, said gasket projecting laterally beyond the spout and being compressed between said confronting portion in the projected position of the spout.

4. A dispensing fitting for containers comprising a nozzle of oblong form secured to the container and projecting therefrom, a spout pivotally supported with respect to the nozzle and of generally U-shaped form and having spaced side wings and a curved end wall connecting the side wings at one end of the spout, said nozzle and said spout having confronting portions adapted to be brought into close proximity in the projected position of the spout, said portion of the spout having an outwardly facing groove, and a tubular gasket disposed in said groove and having its ends fastened to the spout at the ends of the groove, said gasket projecting laterally beyond the spout and being compressed between said confronting portion in the projected position of the spout, said spout having notches at the rearward ends of said groove in which the ends of the gasket are caught and secured, said gasket being compressed between said confronting portions in the projected position of the spout.

5. A dispensing fitting for containers comprising a nozzle of oblong form secured to the container and projecting therefrom, a spout cooperable with the nozzle and of generally U-shaped form and having spaced side wings and a curved connecting portion at one end of the side wings, said wings and said connecting portion having a gasket receiving groove in their outer periphery disposed adjacent the inside wall of the nozzle in the projected position of the spout, and a gasket retained in said groove and projecting laterally therebeyond to be compressed between the.

spout and nozzle in the projected position of the spout and thereby seal the interstice between spout and nozzle.

6. A dispensing fitting for containers comprising a nozzle of oblong form secured to the container and projecting therefrom, a dispensing spout, means supporting the dispensing spout for pivotal movement with respect to the nozzle whereby the spout may hang down in the container in its inoperative position or be projected beyond the nozzle in its pouring position, said spout being of generally U-shaped form and having spaced side wings and a curved connecting end wall at one end of the spout, said wings and said connecting end wall having portions engageable with the nozzle and portions overhanging the same in the projected position of the spout, said wings and said end wall having a gasket receiving groove in their outer periphery disposed adjacent the inside wall of the nozzle in the projected position of the spout, and a gasket retained in said groove and projecting laterally therebeyond to be compressed between the spout and the nozzle in the projected position of the spout to seal the space therebetween.

7. A dispensing fitting for containers comprising a nozzle of oblong form secured to the container and projecting therefrom, a spout of generally U-shaped form and having spaced side wings and a curved connecting end wa1l connecting the side wings at one end of the spout, the side wings and end wall having portions adapted for operative engagement with portions of the nozzle in the projected position of the spout and having portions forwardly and overhanging the nozzle in said position, a gasket carried by said first named portions of the wings and end wall and adapted to be compressed between the same and opposed portions of the nozzle, and a hinge between the spout and the container and so positioned as to insure compression of the gasket when the spout is swung to its projected pouring position.

ALFRED J. CHAMBERLAIN. 

